Gibson Custom Shop’s new Murphy Lab has one purpose: to take expert aging artist Tom Murphy’s proprietary techniques to the next level. Here, Tom and his personally trained team of artists use cutting-edge technology and Tom’s own processes, developed over years of careful testing, to produce perfect replicas of golden-age Gibsons, each dressed with Tom’s brand of authentic, hand-applied playwear, and scientifically reverse-engineered nitrocellulose lacquer, identical to that which the brand used in the 1950s and 1960s. Each Murphy Lab model corresponds to one of four distinct aging levels and features extra-rolled fingerboard binding for a broken-in feel and true-to-life look.
Regardless of the fact that George Harrison and Eric Clapton rocked a ’64 SG Standard, that model year was clearly a standout for SGs in general. The clunky sidepull vibrato had been replaced by the dependable Maestro Vibrola. The neck profiles had increased in size, resembling the prole found on 1959 Les Pauls™. And the balance, playability and look of the SG seemed to come into its own. For all those reasons, the Gibson Custom Shop is proud to present the 1964 SG Standard Reissue. Along with the Maestro Vibrola and chunky neck profile, it has all the hyperaccurate vintage specs one could possibly want — original construction methods, chemically-recreated plastics, replica electronics, and more. The result is perhaps the best looking, feeling and sounding SG Reissue yet. It also features Ultra Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.
Body Shape: SG
Body: 1-Piece Solid Lightweight Mahogany
Weight Relief: None
Neck: Solid Mahogany
Profile: Authentic ’64 Medium C-Shape
Nut width: 1.687″ / 42.85mm
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood, Hide Glue Fit
Scale length: 24.75″ / 628.65mm
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Nylon
Inlay: Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Bridge: ABR-1
Tailpiece: Maestro Vibrola
Knobs: Black Top Hats with Silver Inserts
Tuners: Kluson Single Line, Double Ring
Plating: Nickel; Murphy Lab Light Aged
Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Black Beauty Capacitors
Case: Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch